Chair and spacer for concrete reenforcements



Dec. 8, 1931. R. c. OLMSTED ET AL 1,835,805

CHAIR AND SPACER FOR CONCRETE REENFORCEMENTS Filed June 24, 1929 A TTORNE Y.

Patented Dec. 8, 19 31 T TATES PATENT} OFFICE I I RUSSELL C. OLMSTED, OF'H'UDSON HEIGHTS, JERSEY, AND EDWARD D. REED, OI

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVAN SAID REED -ASSIGNOR TO SAID OLMSTED CHAIR AND sr'ncnn r03 couomi'rn nnnnnozsonm'rs Application filed. June 24,

The present invention relates to new and useful lmprovements 1n chalrs and spacers for use in constructing reenforcing mats for concrete structures and while the invention 5 herein illustrated is shown and described as used inthe construction of concrete'roadways it is to be understood that it is capable of use in other connections as well, such as Pre enfor-cements for concretewalls,curbing, foundations or any type ofconcrete construction which employs intersectingelementsin the reenforcin'g structure thereof. a

, In'the construction'of concrete roadways itis preferable to employ two series of inter secting elements preferably, although not necessarily in the form of bars, The two series of intersecting reenforcing elements are spaced with respect to each other, thus forming a lower series and an upper vseries of intersecting elements when the reenforcing structure is in position in the roadway. s Devlces known as chalrs are employed for maintaining the upper and lower series of re enforcing elements in spaced relation and these chairs generally consist of an upright body member supported upon the sub-base of the road-with the reenforcing elements supported thereon, together with means for tying -or securing the reenforcing elements to eachother and to the chair. It is desirable that these chairs be of more orless rigid nature and at the same time they should be relatively cheap of manufacture for the reason that they are used but once since they become a part of the" of the roadway.

In Patent No. 1,684,195, granted to Russell C. Olmsted, September 11, 1'928,"ar eenforcing structure similar to that above described together with a spacer for maintaining the upper and lower series in spaced relation,- are used and it is 1n connection with reens forcing elements of the type shownin this patent to Olmsted'that the'device ofthe present invention is particularlyadapted.

While the device'shownin the above-mentioned Olmsted "patentis intended as a spacer it maybe used as stated in said patent as a sent invention is particularly adapted reenforcing structure 1929. Serial 110,373,144.

the roadway and in'some roadway constructions itismore desirable to space the lower series of reenforcing elements not only from the upper series of reenforcing elements but also from the sub-base ofthe roadbed audit is in connection with this last mentioned type of reenforcements that the device of the pre- It'is one ofthe objects of the present 'in-,

' Vention to provide a new and improved type of chair .or spacing element which will support a plurality of series of reenforcing ele ments in. spaced relation to one another and at the same time support the complete structure comprising the several series of freenforcing elements and particularly known inf the art as a reenforcing mat,in spaced rela tionvwith' respect to' the sub-grade ofithe roadway; I Itis a further object of the invention to construct a chair which may be used in combination with: conventional types of reenforcing bars and bar ties, thus obviating the necessity of specially designing these elements of the reenforcingmat to meet a special form of chairand spacer. i

. It is a still further object of the invention so to construct and arrange the chair and spacer that the reenforcing' elements of which the mat is comprised will be rigidly connect: ed to each other and to the chair when. the mat is assembled. v p I J Itis a further object 'of'the inventionto' provide achair which willfacilitate the as sembling ofthe mat on the roadway subgrade, thus making it possible when desired to assemble the mat in advance of a concrete laying machine and obviating the necessity of assembling thereenforcing mats at points remote from their use as is a common practice at present in the construction roadways.

With the above and otherobjects in view:

WlIlCll will appear as the nature'of the invention is i more clearlyunderstoodreference is had to the accompanyingdrawings where inisillustrated what may be at the presentof concrete time designated as the preferred forms of the invention and in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a reenforced concrete roadway broken away to show a reenforcing mat in which the chairs are constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail view inele vation and partly in section showing the manner in which the reenforcing elements which form thematareisecured to the chair;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, but taken at right angles thereto; and

' Figure 4 is a detail perspective view showing a slightly modified form of the invention.

The spacer constructedin accordance with the. embodiment of the invention illustrated consists of abody portion 5 and a base or foot portion 6. The body portion 5 is preferably of elongated form and the foot portion 6 is preferably of elongated form and tlie footportion 6 is preferably formed inte g'ral'therewithlby bending the body portion transversely asindicatedat 7 to provide the foot 6 in a plane substantially atright'angles to that of the body portion 5.. V

QEach series of reenforcing elements or bars comprises upper and lower bars and the lower 1 bars of each series are preferably supported by suspending 'themfronithe upper bars of their respective series and the upper bars of each series arelpreferably supported directly by thechairs or spacers which in turn rest uponthe subegrade ofthe roadbed.

' While in the foregoing, theele'ments which make up the mat have been described as in V in a wall structure, the mat would occupy a position in a substantially vertical plane and theupper and lower members would then become inner and outer members in the reenforcing mat structure. In anylnstance it is to be understood that the mat when assembled will comprise intersecting members in series and, that one member of each series will besupported by the chair or spacer with the other member'of each series'supp'orted from that member which is supported by the chair or spacer. e

Referring to Figure 1, the roadbed' is designated by the reference character A 'an'd'the sub-grade thereof by the reference character .13; Th upper series of reenforcing elements isdesignated by the reference character C, the lower series'being designated by the reference character D. The upper series of reenforcin'g' elements-comprises intersecting rods or bars 10 and-11,the rods or bars 10'being theupper elements and the rods or bars ll-the is preferably formed. by slitting lengthwise the body portion 5 as indicated at 17 and bending along-the line 18 to form the rest or 'seat- 15 and the lip 16 is formed by slightly distorting the outer edge of said rest or seat 15 as shown. 'At a point intermediate the ends of the body portion 5 and in longitudinal alignment with the rest or seat 15 a second rest or seat 20 is formed and this second rest or seat 15 is provided with a turned up lip 21. f The rest or seat 20 is formed by cuttingthe body portion transversely from the edge as designated at'26 andlongitudinally of the body portion as at 27. and bending the thus cut-out portion along the line 28. The lip 21 of the rest or seat'20' is. formed in substantially the same manner as the lip 16 of the rest or seat 15, that is, by slightly turning the outer edge thereof upwardly as designated. The two rests orseats 15 and'20 are in alignment with each other so that in the set up structure the reenforcing bars or rods will be substantially in the same. vertical plane which is considered a desirable feature in 'reenforcing mats of this 4 character. I

The reenforcing elements of the upper and lower series are secured together and to the chairs or spacers byelements80 commonly known in the art as bar ties and in the presentinvention these bar ties in addition to securing the reenforcing elements of each series together and to the chairs or spacers also serveas means to prevent shifting movement of the elements of each series relative to each other and relative to the chairs or spacers in a manner which will be hereinafter specifically described.

Having describedthe several elements of the preferred form of the invention as illustratedherein, the manner of assembling the same will now be recited.

The upper members of each series are positioned upon the rests or seats 15 and are prevented from moving laterally therefrom by the upturned lip 16 thereof as more clearly illustrated in Figure 2. The lower members of the upper series are passed beneath the seats15 and the'looped ends of the bar ties are engaged beneath said lower memher as designated at 31 in Figures 2 and 3. The free ends of the bar ties pass-upwardly around the upper members 10 of the upper series as indicated at 32 in Figures 2 and 3 and the free end .of one of the legs of each of the bar ties is then engaged beneath the under reenforcing element 10 of the upper series as indicated at 33 in Figure 2. These bar ties 30 are formed of resilient wire and while in the present instance the type of bar tie known as the single tie is shown it is obvious that bar ties of other types may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention. With theupperseries assembled as just described it will be obvious by reference to Figures 2 and 3 that the tension of the bar ties 30 is exerted to hold the upper reenforcing elements 11 to their rests or seats 15 while the lower reenforcing elements 10 of the upper series are suspended from the upper reenforcing elements 11 by means of the looped ends of the bar ties. As designated by dotted lines in Figure 2 the intermediate portion 35 of the barties extends downwardly upon the outside of the body portion 5 of the chairs and thus clampsthe said body portion 5 of the chair between itself and its respective reenforcing element 10 and this structure prevents lateral movement of the reenforcing elements 10 while the lateral movement of the reenforcing elements 11 is prevented by reason of the lips 16 of the rests or seats 15 and the side wall extending vertically from the rests or seats 15. Longie tudinal movement of the reenforcing elements 10 and 11 is prevented by reason of the pressure resulting from the tension exerted by the bar ties when they are sprung into po sition to retain the parts in operative relation.

The reenforcing elements of the lower series are positioned and retained in place in the same manner as that described for the upper series and the description of the manner of assembling and the manner in which they are retained in position is deemed unnecessary in view of that recited for the upper series since as heretofore stated, it is the same.

In the construction shown in Figure 4 which, as heretofore stated is a modified form of chair or spacer, the same comprising a body portion 40 cut longitudinally as at 41 and bent as at 42 to provide a seat 43 having a slightly upturned lip 44. The body portion 40 is further out transversely as at 45 and longitudinally as at 46 and bent along the line 47 to provide a rest or seat 48 having an upturned lip 49. This portion of the chair or spacer shown in this figure is sub-. stantially the same as the correspondingportion of the chair or spacer described and shown in the preferred form of the invention. In this form however, a foot or support such as 6 in the preferred form of the invention, is not shown, and in use the chair or spacer merely rests upon its lower end.

The method of assembling and use of the device shown in Figure 4 is similar in every respect to that of the devlce shown in Figures 1 to 3 and a further recitatlon thereof is 'deeined unneeessary ingview=of tlie foregoing description. I v- Willl lthas not been: shown in the accom panyingillu'strationsit is obvious that the ody portion" may'be'provided' with a longitudinah rib for the purpose" of adding strength-thereto for n'otas desired, and-that other-minor details of construction may be resorted towithout departing from the spirit M of the'presentinvention. Y I

' -While we have illustrated'the invention in what'm'ay betermedits preferred forms we wish it" understood that 'it may be"executed in various other forms not'herein illustrated I but'clearly within its scope, and we therefore Wish it understood that all forms which fall within the purview of the appended'claims are eove'red'h'erein. i

What is claimed asnew is":

1 Areenforcing rnat' comprising in binati'on a pliirahty of'chairs or spacers, each provided a plurality, of reenforcing element supporting; rests or seats in 'alignment with each'other. areenforcing element.

supported on each of said rests or seats, a '56 reenforcing element positioned beneath each of said reenforcing element rests or seats and in intersecting relation with the'reenforcing elements supported thereby, and means for clamping saidree nforcing elements in engagement with opposite sides of the reenforclug-element supportmg rests or seats for suspending the reenforcing elements which pass ment supporting rests or seats in alignment with each other, a reenforcing element supported on each of said rests or seats, a reenforcing element positioned beneath each of said reenforcing element rests or seats and in intersecting relation with the reenforcing elements supported thereby, and means for clamping each of said reenforcing elements in engagement with opposite sides of the reenforcing-element supporting rests or seats for suspending the reenforcing elements which pass beneath the reenforcing-element restsor seats from the reenforcing elements supported thereon, saidlast mentioned means comprising a bar tie. t

3. In a reenforcing mat for concrete structures, a chair or spacer, rests or seats for supporting intersecting reenforcing elements at two points of said chair or spacer with their points of intersection in alignment with each other, means for securing said intersecting reenforcing elements together with aportion of said chalr interposed therebetween and means comprising a turned lip on said rest for preventing lateral movement-of those relie " elements.

this 28th day. of

enforcing elements supportedby said rest or seat. 1 Q

- 4. In a reenforcing mat for concrete structures, a chair or, spacer, rests or seats for supporting intersecting reenforcing elements at two points of said chair or spacer with their points of intersection in alignment with each other, means for securing said intersecting reenforcing elements together, and means for preventing lateral movement of those reenforcing elements supported by said rests or seats, said last mentioned means comprising integral upstanding portions formed on said rests or seats, with said rests or seats interposed between the intersecting reenforcing Signed at New York, in the county of New York and Stateof New York, this'5th day of June, A. D. 1929. v 1 y *RUSSELL C. OLMSTED.

' Signed at Philadelphia, in'the county of Philadelphia and State. of Pennsylvania,

May, A. D. 1929. vEDWARD'D. REED. 

